Method and system for selective paging of wireless devices using a cellular broadcast service

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining a request to transfer data to a group of wireless communication devices within an area. Wireless base stations of a wireless mobility network are identified, responsive to the request, wherein the wireless base stations provide wireless communication services within the area, including a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) service. A wireless transmission is facilitated of a first broadcast message by the wireless base stations, wherein the first broadcast message identifies the group of wireless communication devices. The broadcast message is transmitted by way of the MBMS service of the wireless communication services. The first broadcast message initiates a state transition to an active state for a plurality of wireless communication devices of the group of wireless communication devices configured in an idle state. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a request to transfer data to a plurality of wireless communication devices within a geographical region; 
 determining, by the processing system, that the request is authorized for the geographical region; 
 identifying, by the processing system, a plurality of wireless base stations of a wireless network that provide wireless communication services within the geographical region; 
 selecting, by the processing system, a broadcast service, a multicast service, a unicast service or a combination thereof for transmitting a message to the plurality of wireless communication devices, thereby providing a selected service; and 
 facilitating, by the processing system via the selected service, a transmission of the message and a subsequent data transfer by the plurality of wireless base stations to the plurality of wireless communication devices, 
 wherein the message initiates a state transition to an active state for a group of wireless communication devices of the plurality of wireless communication devices configured in an idle state at a time of the transmission of the message, 
 wherein each wireless communication device of the group of wireless communication devices monitors for the message while in the idle state and, in accordance with receiving the message, transitions to the active state after a delay period associated therewith, and 
 wherein at least one wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices comprises a mobile device that is located outside the geographical region during the transmission of the message and receives the message upon returning to the geographical region. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication services comprise a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) service. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the message is transmitted and the data transfer is performed via the MBMS service. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message identifies the plurality of the wireless communication devices, and wherein the plurality of wireless communication devices receive the data transfer without attaching to the wireless network. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delay period associated with each wireless communication device is uniquely associated with that device. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the group of wireless communication devices comprises a plurality of subgroups of wireless communication devices, and wherein each device of a given subgroup of wireless communication devices transitions to the active state after a delay period associated with that subgroup. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the processing system, the geographical region based on the request. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the processing system, downlink data directed to the plurality of wireless communication devices. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission of the message is repeated according to a schedule. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the schedule comprises a total number of repeated transmissions of the message, a time period within which the transmission of the message is repeated, a repeat frequency, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       11. A device comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and 
 a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising: 
 detecting a request to perform a data transfer to a plurality of wireless communication devices within a geographical region; 
 determining that the request is authorized for the geographical region; 
 identifying a plurality of wireless base stations that provide wireless communication services within a geographical region; 
 selecting a broadcast service, a multicast service, a unicast service or a combination thereof for transmitting a message to the plurality of wireless communication devices, thereby providing a selected service; and 
 facilitating, via the selected service, a transmission of the message and subsequently the data transfer by the plurality of wireless base stations to the plurality of wireless communication devices, 
 wherein the message initiates a state transition to an active state for a group of wireless communication devices of the plurality of wireless communication devices configured in an idle state at a time of the transmission of the message, 
 wherein each wireless communication device of the group of wireless communication devices monitors for the message while in the idle state and, in accordance with receiving the message, transitions to the active state after a delay period associated therewith, and 
 wherein at least one wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices comprises a mobile device that is located outside the geographical region during the transmission of the message and receives the message upon returning to the geographical region. 
 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the geographical region based on the request. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the wireless communication services comprise a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) service. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the message is transmitted and the data transfer is performed via the MBMS service. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the delay period associated with each wireless communication device is uniquely associated with that device. 
     
     
       16. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:
 receiving a request to transfer data to a plurality of wireless communication devices within a geographical region; 
 determining that the request is authorized for the geographical region; 
 identifying a plurality of wireless base stations that provide wireless communication services within the geographical region; 
 selecting a broadcast service, a multicast service, a unicast service or a combination thereof for transmitting a message to a plurality of wireless communication devices, thereby providing a selected service; and 
 facilitating, via the selected service, a transmission of the message and a subsequent data transfer by the plurality of wireless base stations to the plurality of wireless communication devices, 
 wherein the message identifies the plurality of the wireless communication devices, 
 wherein the message initiates a state transition to an active state for a group of wireless communication devices of the plurality of wireless communication devices configured in an idle state at a time of the transmission of the message, 
 wherein each wireless communication device of the group of wireless communication devices monitors for the message while in the idle state and, in accordance with receiving the message, transitions to the active state after a delay period associated therewith, and 
 wherein at least one wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices comprises a mobile device that is located outside the geographical region during the transmission of the message and receives the message upon returning to the geographical region. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the wireless communication services comprise a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MEMS) service. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the message is transmitted and the data transfer is performed via the MEMS service. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the delay period associated with each wireless communication device is uniquely associated with that device. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the transmission of the message is repeated according to a schedule.